With Marlon King injured, the big Serbian striker was lined up for a return to the starting XI against Watford yesterday, until he turned in what Blues boss Clark called: ‘’possibly the worst training session in terms of a professional footballer I have ever come across’’ in training at Wast Hills on Thursday.

That prompted Clark to drop him from any involvement in the clash with the Hornets and throws yet another question mark over the future of the striker, reported to be on £65,000 a week, who Blues have been trying to unload for at least the past four transfer windows.

Some fans have taken to social media to say that with top-scorer King out, Clark is cutting off his nose to spite his face by axing Zigic – and although I do take their point, on this occasion I have to disagree.

Lee’s actions in this case are all about setting out the culture of the football club and laying down parameters of what is and isn’t acceptable from professional players.

There have always been poor trainers – players who would go through the motions in the week, then turn it on when it mattered on a Saturday afternoon.

Some really, really good players are notoriously not the best in training, but I don’t put Zigic in that category.

In my view, by obviously showing the wrong attitude, he’s set a bad example for the young players at a club which has an awful lot of youngsters in the first-team squad.

When you’re a professional footballer, there are certain standards you have to live by; showing respect to the manager, to coaches and to your fellow players, while performing to the best of your ability.

And I don’t buy the argument that because he’s on a huge wage, he has to somehow automatically live up to those standards.

I want Academy lads on £100 a week to show the right attitude and show that they care about their profession.

All of them have to remember that they are role models to thousands, if not millions, of young players who look up to them and expect them to show the highest standards.

As for Zigic, you have to wonder where this latest incident leaves him. He was on the brink of a return to the starting XI and should have been busting a gut to be in it. Instead, he’s alienated the manager.

Blues can’t afford to pay him up and ship him out, so what happens now depends on the dynamics of the situation.

And surely someone needs to point out to him that if he really wants to get away from St Andrew’s, throwing his dummy out in such a dramatic fashion really isn’t helping him.

It’s not his fault he’s by far the highest earner at the club, but if he doesn’t put in a shift when he is offered the chance, very few clubs will be willing to take a chance on him.